Ramirez forgets to take antibiotic, out with hand infection

PITTSBURGH Manager Ozzie Guillen shared a taxi with Hanley Ramirez to PNC Park Friday. It was during that cab ride that Guillen became alarmed at the state of Ramirez's right hand.

Not long after arriving at the stadium, Ramirez departed for a local hospital to get an apparent infection checked out. During the first-half finale on July 8 in St. Louis, a frustrated Ramirez after an at-bat returned to the dugout and sustained a laceration when he knocked over a cooling fan.

Guillen said it became infected because Ramirez forgot to take his antibiotics.

"As soon as I saw it [I knew] it was an infection," Guillen said. "Hopefully the doctor finds the right pill and make sure the baby has to take it. I will every night, 'Open your mouth' and put it in his mouth. ... How do you forget to take a pill the doctor sends you to take?"

Guillen added that the problem did not impact Ramirez earlier this week in Chicago. By Friday morning, Guillen said: "It was nasty. ... I thought something bit him."

Though Guillen did not rule out Ramirez playing Saturday, he could miss the entire series against the Pirates. Guillen was displeased with Ramirez at the time of the incident as well. Ramirez had to exit the game, which the Marlins lost, and afterward Guillen called it a "very stupid injury."

Ramirez until Friday had not missed any time in the second half. Since the All-Star break, he's gone 6-for-26 (.230) with three runs, a double, two homers, three RBI, three walks and 10 strikeouts. He has yet to log a base hit in nine second half at-bats with runners in scoring position.

— Juan C. Rodriguez

Saturday: Marlins at Pirates

When/Where: 7:05 p.m., PNC Park, Pittsburgh

On the mound

RHP Carlos Zambrano (5-7, 4.22) vs. RHP A.J. Burnett (10-3, 3.78): Zambrano in 16 career PNC Park appearances (14 starts) is 8-1 with a 3.94 ERA. Burnett is making his second career start against his former club. He faced the Marlins on June 20, 2009 as a member of the Yankees and took the loss despite allowing two runs (one earned) over 6 1/3 innings.

"I've got a pretty good [Roberto Clemente] collection. Just in case I get divorced and my wife takes everything, I can sell everything. I'll come to Pittsburgh and say, 'This is on sale.' My wife is never going to divorce me, man. She knows I'm going to be happy. She doesn't want me happy. She wants me to be miserable the rest of my life."

On the web

Right-hander Dane Stone entered Thursday's Gulf Coast Rookie League game in the eighth and didn't realize what was happening. He knew starter Justin Jackson had not allowed a hit through four innings, but was oblivious as to how Patrick Merkling did in the seventh.

The more festive than usual celebration after Stone retired the six GCL Astros hitters he faced surprised him. He was part of a perfect game.

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Chat live every Tuesday at noon with Marlins beat writer Juan Rodriguez at sunsentinel.com/marlins.